What do you get when you mix slow-moving stretches with a 45-minute snooze? No, not exactly naptime — but you're damn near close. World, allow me to introduce you to my new favorite thing, Napercise classes.
Created by U.K.-based David Lloyd Gyms, Napercise is a 60-minute group fitness class in the mid-afternoon targeted to "exhausted mums and dads," which begins (and ends) with a series of tension-releasing stretches and a 45-minute catnap. (I am not a mum or a dad, but, um, sign me up!)
The class, which is set to a temperature ideal for catching Zzzs, is said to "reinvigorate the mind, improve moods, and even burn the odd calorie," in just under an hour, according to a statement from the fitness center. Each (lucky) Napercise participant will be given their own single bed, a blanket, and an eye mask (fingers crossed they're of the silk variety) provided by the gym to comfortably get their snooze on. There's also atmospheric sounds to help get your sleep on.
It sounds deeply relaxing, but there's also some significant health benefits to getting enough rest, confirms Kathryn Pinkham, a sleep expert who helped Llloyd develop the program. "In addition to a lack of sleep bringing with it a higher risk of developing anxiety or depression, when we are sleep deprived we lack the energy to exercise regularly and also the mental clarity to make good decisions about the food we eat, which could negatively impact our physical health in the long-run," she told The Independent.
This weekend marks the first time Napercise will be offered to the public in the U.K. And while it's only on a trial-run basis, based on how quickly the class filled up, we have a feeling this won't be the last time we'll be hearing about the sleepy-time session. Now, if only it would cross the pond...
More workout-related news:
- 5 Best Post-Workout Beauty Kits to Get Gorgeous on the Fly
- The Post-Workout Hack for Acne-Prone Skin, According to Dermatologists
- Sharing Workout Results With Friends Could Make You Work Out Harder, Study Finds
Now, find out the three workouts you can do in the office: